Not falling asleep. I mean falling down.
Three out of four people (76.1%) over the age of 64 have hypertension.
We all agree that high blood pressure must be treated. Why take a prescription drug that increases your risk of falls?
Naturopathic Medicine offers safe and effective treatments for hypertension. Older Americans are taking approximately 12-14 prescription drugs by age 72. The gateway drug is usually for high blood pressure. This leads to another anti-hypertensive medication and a diuretic (water loss pill) and so on.
At a European Cardiology Congress in Barcelona, Spain, doctors viewed a meta-analysis presentation of 11 trials of patients over the age of 65 to compare anti-hypertensive meds against placebo. The analysis included the risk and benefits of taking the anti-hypertensives.
The upshot of this meta-analysis is that medication was more effective than placebo to lower blood pressure. Therapy was linked with a 30% lower risk of stroke, but medication was tied to a 21% increased risk of falls.
This has meaning to me because my mother suffered a medication (coumadin) induced massive stroke and was prescribed not one, but two anti-hypertensive medications. She recovered slowly from the stroke just in time to get a strong-armed flu vaccine that contains aluminum. She, like millions of other victims of modern medicine, was taking anti-hypertensive meds and was at high risk for falling due to dizziness. A possible head injury just waiting to happen. My mother and other oldsters fall prey to the medical system unless they have a Naturopathic doctor advocate or other enlightened practitioner in the room with them.
Naturopathic Medicine offers diet and lifestyle changes to address hypertension. Foods that lower blood pressure include: beets, celery and pomegranates. I test for elevated lead in the blood and tissue storage as this is a main cause of idiopathic or unexplained hypertension. Schedule your environmental consult today.
High blood pressure is not a normal sign of aging.
Medication should not increase your risk of falls. Don't fall for the medical hype. Naturopathic Medicine is primary care today and medicine for the future.
